Game Debrief: What Went Right And What Went Wrong?

We don't have LeBron, he is All NBA caliber, that's more of an issue, than the preseason focus. We have a good squad IMO, but we're aren't going to beat many good teams, at full strength, while we are missing our 2nd best player. It's a tough League, especially in the West.

 

I don't think it's a coincidence. It obviously has an impact, these things don't turn on just in a click, it's a building up and by not having preseason we are a bit late. It happens in every sport

On the other hand, you don't win the title in October or November. And our best bet is actually to peak later, so maybe it's their plan.

I don't agree with it and if you recall the last title season we started firing and even had a rule of not losing 2 in a row. Especially when you are still building a culture, it's not like Denver that have a lot of continuity, for example. It's a pity but we are where we are and let's try to make the best of it

 

Lakers started 3-0 last season and still didn't have preseason losing to GSW by like hundred points
Exact score was 124-72

So it's not that ,it's combination of things Butler isn't 16 FT regular season guy unlike Shai and GSW always starting season hot .
For example last season they started 7-1 and were 6-0 in preseason

 

Agreed, the Warriors are a good team and shot lights out. I don't like slow starts and hope to avoid them and the need to be fighting late just to stay out of the play in. Either way it will be a fun ride.

 

We haven’t had continuity since LeStoic got here. He doesn’t value it because he has zero patience and he’s been able to get away with playing GM for so long now- up until this past summer.
It’s okay though, since he tells everyone he’s the GOAT.

 

Great bounce back game.

Luka isn't human.

Biggest takeaway for me is this second unit looks a lot better with Vando and Smart as the disruptors, Rui and Luka or Austin as the offense and Jake as the connector/bridge

Great 3rd Q, something we've been allergic to as of late

 

Lakers at home win the 2nd half 60-47 to win 128-110 over Antman and the Wolves.

The Slovenian was unstoppable. Did you seem him almost dunk?

Doncic: 49/11/8 in 35 mins. My lawd!

Loved what Vando gave to us: 2 steals, 2 blocks, 2 FTs, missed both field goals. But at the risk of sounding like a cliche, it's what he disrupts on D when he's out there. Marcus Smart, too. (Still - as always - working hard to accept a C bag in P&G; gimme time.)

AR: 25 on 9 for 15 with 11 dimes and 7 boards.

I was very much prepared to see us lose this game and start 0-2. The game went on and Luka made me feel like when Kobe just was RELENTLESS.

Effing awesome.

 

Nice to feel again that we have a player that takes over games like Kobe

 

Luka f***ing Doncic!!!!!!!! Now that’s Showtime. Looked like Magic out there. Shimmying and Dancing. All the players were playing with Joy. Love seeing Reaves out there. He looked so good out there like I said just playing great. Austin Reaves don’t be afraid to be great. Taking the torch from Jerry West Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant.

so far 26 points a game. 5 assists and 2 threes. Sounds all star to me. And he made his free throws.

Deandre Ayton and this is what I was telling yall in the off season why the acquisition was so huge the ability to pick and roll. And roll hard. All the spacing. Look at the spacing.

look at Reaves and Doncic stats. Doncic 49 points and 45 points. Just so much spacing and it’s showing.

Rui Hachimura the 22 points. Hitting the outside shots hitting the 3 pointers open.

And we whupped Minnesotas a**.!!!!!! See Minnesota that’s what we look like with a competent Center that provides spacing. That’s how you can’t beat us.


Looks like Western Conference Finals against Dallas hugh and Luka. You can’t guard that. You can’t defend that.

 

You saw what they said on Amazon prime. Postgame. Just what I said. The great Blake Griffin in that pick and Roll with Ayton that’s the difference with the pick and roll for Luka. How Ayton seals gotta run that pick and roll.

 

I'm gonna rant:

Luka is amazing, Nico is a complete moron. AD on his best day is not as valuable as Luka. I'm thinking best offensive player in the league and he is under appreciated on defense. He is not quick enough to keep up with some quick guards in this league and I don't think he did much to help us slow down Ant, but who is?!? He does make some good plays on defense, he is not a dumb defensive player, but he just is not quick enough to stay with the fastest guys and sometimes he needs to get his arms up and try to block his cover. Of course, he expends a lot of energy on offense and it is likely hard to go that hard on both ends. I like that he rebounds and sure seemed intent on getting Ayton and Rui involved tonight, so did AR. I never realized just how good an offensive player he was. I saw highlights here and there and sure he made some cool acrobatic stunt type shots, but I used to see box scores where he only shot like 45%, so I figured he was mortal. Seeing him last year and these two games to start the season, this dude ain't mortal. I think he is going to improve his shooting, especially when Lebron is here. With Lebron, AR and him to control the offense and having Rui and Ayton to help with the floor getting spread, we will be very formidable. Game 1, was rust and learning, we figured a couple things out and did much better in game 2. I think we have a very good 7 man rotation. We are going to get hurt by teams with 9-10 man rotations. We are not deep and good teams will exploit that.

and oh yeah, Gabe should not be starting. Smart is much better and wreaks havoc on the opposition.

 

You add LeBron as your third best player to what we showed tonight and this team is a contender. Luka is in MVP form and AR complements him perfectly. Liked what I saw from everyone. Helps put the mind at ease a bit. Smart is one tough SOB.

 

Luka is so advanced as a player. He can score anywhere on the court.

Hes exceptionally superior to any player on the court. He toys with them.

His shooting brings you out and then he goes by you. He can post up. Pick and roll no way.

I love how he got his teammates involved and listened to me and look what happened. We won and put it on Minnesota.

He’s better than Shai and f***ing Shai is MVP.

and he’s younger then Shai.

This Nico trade is one of the worst. Nah f*** it Nah f*** that. Is the worst trade in NBA history.

What the f*** was Nico talking when he justified that trade?

Look at AD as dominant as he looks you can see the decline.


And they gave us Luka who looks more spry than ever.

And they were trying to say Cooper Flagg is better than Luka??? Looking at you Avery Johnson. And trying to compare getting Cooper to Luka???? There’s no consolation. Dallas yall Traded Luka to the Lakers!!!!!!!!

 

Amazing how adding Ayton, Smart and LaRavia evened the playing field physicality wise vs Minnesota.

 

This has been a big weakness and so nice to see them score 40

 

Luka Doncic sets Lakers record with 92 points in 1st 2 games

Luka Doncic scored 49 points in the Lakers' 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday -- shattering Jerry West's 56-year franchise record of 81 points scored through the first two games of a season

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46717404/luka-doncic-sets-lakers-record-92-points-1st-2-games

 

Lots to like about this game:

- Gabe played solid defense at the POA against Antman. Unlucky not to have a three fall that was almost done, an extra 3 points would have gave him a very respectful box score.

- Smart had a lot of hustle and his energy really changed the game in the second and third quarters and you won’t see it in the box score. He has a bit of a burst of speed that I wasn’t expecting on offense, when Luka sat and he was running things with Reaves in the third, he blew by his guy every time. A few passes were just over the mark that could have been assists. Curious to see this play making side of his game used more by the coaching staff.

- Really liked the hustle energy from the Smart and Vando unit, that unit in the third alongside LaRavia, Rui, Reaves and then Luka blew the game open. We had a lot of hustle and athleticism. When Rui is on offensively, we can play more defenders.

- Ayton missed a few that could have gotten him to 20 points, but it was nice to see us go to him to start the third. He’s a solid offensive option we have to utilise.

- Reaves played great.

- Luka was in MVP mode.

- Lebron looked happy.

 

So, I missed the second half since I can’t record Prime games.
Smart made a huge difference. He and Vando are what this team was sorely missing last year.
Good to see Ayton turned it around in the second half since he started out being pretty invisible.
Reaves came up big.
That’s the Rui we need.
Yes, Luka is amazing and will be in the running for MVP this season.
Yup, I’m glad to be wrong about the outcome of this one!

 

What a great win

We have a young GOAT in our hands. He's gonna tear up the league.

Positives
+ LUKA f***ING DONCIC
+ competitive drive from the whole team
+ physicality, we matched them
+ good offense. Luka could do anything he wanted and the rest of the team followed up
+ Rui and Ayton were great offensively, we need that from them
+ Luka-Ayton connection saw improvements
+ Smart can turn a game around on a couple defensive plays. It ignites the team
+ rebounding, great comeback in the 2nd half

Negatives
- outside of the top4, no one else in the team can score. I want more from LaRavia and Smart offensively, we can't have half the team non-existent on offense.